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Conference or Workshop Item

Title: Teaching teachers to understand and undertake research: trying to make‘Research Methods’ work

Creators: Preece, D.

Example citation: Preece, D. (2014) Teaching teachers to understand andundertake research: trying to make ‘Research Methods’ work. Panel Presentationpresented to: Northampton Learning and Teaching Conference 2014:Northampton 2018: Planning, Designing and Delivering Student Success, TheUniversity of Northampton, 22 May 2014.

Version: Presented version

http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/6630/NECTAR

David Preece PhD, MEd, CSS Centre for Education and Research

School of Education University of Northampton

Teaching teachers to understand and undertake research: trying to make ‘Research Methods’ work

University of Northampton Learning and Teaching Conference

22 May 2014

Why do teachers need to know about research?

An evidence-based profession

• Need for teaching to be based on sound evidence & research (hopefully) goes without saying

– Teaching and Learning Research Programme • shared results of academic research

• shared government-commissioned research

– Evidence Based Teachers Network

– Books such as…

An evidence-based profession

An evidence-based profession?

An evidence-based profession?

• Ben Goldacre (2013) calling for a ‘revolution’ re use of evidence in practice (particularly re quantitative research, RCTs)

• Myths about learning & unsubstantiated approaches common

An evidence-based activity…or a political football?

Research literacy

• Clear need for teachers to be ‘research literate’

– to make informed judgements about approaches and claims

– to use data collection/analysis systems effectively

– To evaluate impact of their own teaching

BUT…

BUT…

• Teachers, head teachers and education advisers report finding accessing, evaluating and using research challenging (Williams & Coles, 2003)

• More concerned with ‘classroom fit’ (e.g. applicability of topic) than validity, reliability, methodology or evidence

• Long-standing antipathy towards research – education academics viewed as lacking credibility as not engaged in the ‘real work’ in the classroom (Joram, 2007)

“The knowledge base keeps growing, but this doesn’t mean necessarily that educational practitioners know about it, value it, or apply it in their work.” (Gall et al., 2007.)

Research Methods

• HE courses (at UG & particularly at PG level ) – key tool for developing research literacy in teachers…but again…

– evidence in literature of antipathy towards research – ‘It’s not my job, it’s not part and parcel of what I’m paid to do (Williams & Coles, 2003).’

– little in literature identifying HOW to teach teachers about research

– more about • lack of common and clear research/pedagogic culture

• barriers to learning (especially re quantitative methods)

• fears and anxieties (especially re quantitative research)

School of Education

• High demand for Research Methods training as part of Level 7 courses BUT… – concerns that module content

was boring and of little relevance to students

– ‘pitched too high’

– off-putting for students and staff

– staff reluctant to teach (especially re quantitative methods & analysis)

So…focus of project

• What content needs to be taught on a Level 7 Research Methods module in Education?

• How can the content be made more accessible, flexible and relevant?

• Need to ensure that it… – can be taught both by ourselves or colleagues

– can be taught in a variety of formats (traditional one session per week to intensive)

– is fully updated to include more recent reading and research

– utilises a wider range of appropriate teaching methods to increase flexibility and accessibility and meet university expectations with regard to blended learning

Methodology

• Evaluation-focused action research

• Data collection:

– surveying students

– reflective diaries

– interviewing colleagues

– benchmarking module content against other universities

Activity to date • Benchmarking via internet search & personal contact

completed and course content updated to include

– emphasis on mixed methods

– Focus on quantitative research literacy

– More in-session activities/lectures ‘flipped’ to pre-session preparation

• Updated content to link to relevant, staff-conducted research

• Delivered module in traditional form Spring 2014; being delivered in intensive format Summer 2014 x 2

• Full evaluation July 2014

What have we found so far? (1) • Increased satisfaction with some aspects of course

presentation, e.g.

– Introduction to Educational Research

– Understanding, presenting and analysing quantitative data

• Continued resistance/antipathy to some aspects of research –very functional approach

– “Action research –does not relate to what I want to do.”

What have we found so far? (2)

• Flipping’ the classroom not a successful strategy with busy professionals (including colleagues) with heavy teaching/marking workloads

• Varying response to some innovations, particularly re e.g. Ashoka Changemaker content

– “Askoka Changemaker session was superfluous – what was that about?”

david.preece@northampton.ac.uk

Dr David Preece Senior Lecturer, Centre for Education and Research School of Education University of Northampton Park Campus Boughton Green Road Northampton NN2 7AL

References • Gall, M.D., Gall, J.P. & Borg, W.R. (2007) Educational Research: an

introduction (8th edition). Needham Heights MA: Allyn & Bacon.

• Goldacre, B. (2013) Building Evidence into Education [online]. Available from: http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/b/ben%20goldacre%20paper.pdf [Accessed 22/7/2013]

• Joram, E. (2007) Clashing epistemologies: aspiring teachers’, practicing teachers’ and professors’ beliefs about knowledge and research in education. Teaching and Teacher Education, 23, 123-135.

• Williams, D. & Coles, L. (2003) The Use of Research by Teachers: information literacy, access and attitudes. Department of Information Management Research Report 14. Aberdeen: Robert Gordon University.